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Immunization Certification Program
for
Pharmacists
Presented by
Skaggs School of Pharmacy
Continuing Professional Education Program
Immunization Certification Program
The Montana Board of Pharmacy Rules and Regulations stipulate that a pharmacist must meet certain training and related
requirements to be eligible to immunize adults in Montana. The University of Montana is one of several immunization
certificate training providers recognized by the Board. This program is approved for 20 hours (2.0 CEU) of ACPE
continuing education credit and is comprised of two parts: home-study component 16 hours (1.6 CEU) and the live
practicum workshop component 4 hours (0.4 CEU). We welcome licensed pharmacists to register for the program.
PART 1:
Home-Study Program Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Participants will access the CDC Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases web-on-demand format
via the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/epivac/default.htm. There are 11 sessions covering various
immunization-related topics. The Pink Book – Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Disease textbook is
also available at this site. The easy-to-reference Pink Book contains updated, comprehensive information on each
vaccine-preventable disease, as well as the latest information on principles of vaccination, general recommendations on
immunization, and immunization strategies for healthcare practices. Each web-on-demand session has a corresponding
Pink Book chapter.
Participants will view the 11 web-on-demand sessions (about 16 hours). NOTE: Continuing education credit is no longer
provided through the CDC for the 11 web-on-demand session but rather through the Skaggs School of Pharmacy,
Continuing Professional Education office, at the University of Montana. Once the 11 sessions have been completed, you
will NOT be required to submit any information to the CDC to receive continuing education credit. A take-home test will
be provided to you after the live practicum immunization workshop that includes the material from the 11 web-on-demand
sessions. Though the CDC no longer provides CE credit for the web-on-demand sessions as of May 2014, we have
elected to continue to use this material. Overall, the content of the modules as a whole has remained the same over the
past five years. There have been a few updates to influenza and pneumococcal recommendations and we will address
those updates during the live practicum workshop. Therefore, the material provided within these modules is still valid
and constitutes the live CE to complete the certificate program. An open-book post-test must be completed with a score
of at least 80% correct responses. Pharmacists will receive credit for a total of 16 hours (1.6 CEU) after successfully
completing the post-test.
Upon completion of the home-study program and post-test, the participant will be able to:
 Describe the difference between active and passive immunity.
 Discuss characteristics of live attenuated and inactivated vaccines.
 Describe considerations for timing and spacing of vaccine doses.
 Identify valid contraindications to vaccination.
 Describe the general categories of vaccine adverse reactions.
 Describe each vaccine-preventable disease, including the causative agent of the disease.
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
For each vaccine-preventable disease:
o List the groups at highest risk.
o Identify those for whom routine vaccination is recommended.
o Describe the characteristics of the vaccine used to prevent each disease. Characteristics may include type
of vaccine (live attenuated vs inactivated), schedule, contraindications, and/or adverse reactions.
PART 2:
Practicum Training
Hands-on training in vaccine administration and provision of immunizations is the focus of the practicum session.
Additional topics include a review of Montana pharmacy laws authorizing vaccine administration, adverse reaction
management, vaccine guideline updates, collaborative practice agreements, protocols, and documentation.
Learning Objectives for the Live Workshop Practicum Component of the Immunization Program
Upon completion of this program participants will be able to:
 Identify professional requirements and restrictions for pharmacists providing immunizations within a
collaborative drug therapy management agreement in Montana.
 Describe the procedures necessary to minimize and manage potential adverse reactions to vaccine administration.
 Demonstrate the ability to interview and assess prospective patients to determine the need for immunization.
 Demonstrate how to safely deliver intramuscular and subcutaneous immunizations.
 Utilize web-based information sources to investigate questions pertinent to vaccines, related diseases, and
immunization.
Participants will receive credit for a total of 4 hours or 0.4 CEU for completion of this session.
Successful Completion of All of the Following Activities is Required to Obtain the Immunization Certificate:
1. Obtain and read the current edition of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: The Pink
Book. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/index.html
2. Complete the 2012 Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases overview by viewing the 11
CDC web-on-demand modules (16 hours). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/epivac/default.htm.
3. Watch the Injection Technique video on the American Pharmacists Association website. Available at:
http://www.pharmacist.com/injection-technique
4. Obtain CPR certification on your own.
5. Complete practical training on immunization technique and earn certification by instructor observation at a live
workshop.
6. Achieve a score of ≥80% on the take-home examination, which covers information learned through the Pink
Book, the online CDC material, and the live workshop.
7. Participate in a pharmacy immunization program by administering vaccines to patients.
8. Complete all components of the certificate program within six months of starting date.
Registration
Pharmacists can register for this certification program by completing a registration form. Please email, fax, or mail the
registration form to the addresses/number at the bottom of the form.
The fee for both the certificate program and live workshop practicum is $250. If you are only interested in the live
immunization practicum workshop, the fee is $85.
A minimum of 6 participants must be registered to hold the Live Practicum Workshop. If there
are not enough participants registered seven days prior to the workshop, it will be canceled.
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Program Faculty
Practicum Session
Katherine McCartney Hale, PharmD, BCPS, Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana
Home-Study – Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Iyabode Akinsanya-Beysolow, MD, MH, FAAP, Medical Officer, CDC, NCIRD; William Atkinson, MD, MPH, Medical
Epidemiologist, CDC/NCIRD; Andrew Kroger, MD, MPH, Medical Officer, CDC/NCIRD; Zanie Leroy, MD, MPH,
Medeical Officer, CDC/NCEZID; Mona Saraiya, MD, MPH, Medical Officer, CDC/NCIRD, Raymond Strikas, MD,
MPH, Medical Epidemiologist, CDC/NCIRD; Donna Weaver, MN, RN, Nurse Educator, CDC/NCIRD and Target
Audience Content Expert; JoEllen Wolicki, BSN, RN, Nurse Educator, CDC/NCIRD.
Requirements for Receiving Continuing Education Credit
Participants who read the current edition of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: The Pink
Book, watch the 11 web-on-demand sessions, and achieve a score of ≥80% on the take-home examination will receive 16
hours (0.16 CEU) of ACPE continuing education credit for the home-study portion of this program. Participants who
attend the live workshop and successfully demonstrate how to safely administer vaccines as determined by the course
instructor must sign the attendance roster and complete a program evaluation will receive 4 hours (0.4 CEU) of ACPE
continuing education credit. When all requirements of both components are met, participant will receive 20 hours (2.0
CEU) of credit.
NOTE:
* You must provide an NABP eProfile ID and Birthdate (mmdd) to the CPE Office at the time of registration or day of the
program. If we do not receive this information from you within 60-days of the activity, you will not be eligible to receive
your continuing education credits.
For more information about this program, contact:
Katherine McCartney Hale, Immunization Certification Program Coordinator
(406) 243-4647
katherine.hale@umontana.edu
Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy
Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The knowledge-based home-study component of this program
is 16 hours (1.6 CEUs; UAN 0035-0000-15-003-H01-P; Initial Release Date: 03/20/2015; Expiration Date: 03/20/2018).
The live, application-based component of this program is approved for 4 hours (0.4 CEUs; UAN 0035-0000-15-004-L01-P; Initial
Release Date: 03/20/2015; Expiration Date: 03/20/2018). Continuing education credits will be uploaded to CPE Monitor within 60days after completion of the live workshop component. Immunization certificates will be issued within 3 weeks of completion of all
required activities and submission of required documentation.
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